At VERTICON 2025, this Utah State University team took top prize in the School Team category for their outstanding performance and technical mastery across all events. (VAI/f-stop Photography) AMC Competition returns to VERTICON Some of the best maintenance minds from around the world will compete in the Aerospace Maintenance Council (AMC) Competition during VERTICON 2026. The contest, presented by Snap-on and powered by VAI, returns to the world’s largest vertical aviation conference and trade show for a second year. VERTICON 2026 takes place Mar. 9–12 (exhibits open Mar. 10–12) in Atlanta, Georgia. The AMC Competition, open to both students and licensed professionals, recognizes the knowledge, precision, and expertise of aviation maintenance technicians. Military units, schools, and maintenance organizations can sponsor teams of three members each to participate in the event. Visit the AMC website for more information about becoming a competition sponsor or registering a team. Additional information about VERTICON 2026 is available at verticon.org. AMC teams compete against one another in 15-minute stages, performing hands-on exercises that simulate real-world maintenance scenarios using actual aircraft components. Activities are designed to test participants’ skills and problem-solving abilities across multiple areas of aircraft maintenance, including avionics, hydraulics, workplace safety, and more. After a Mar. 9 orientation for the competitors, the competition will take place Mar. 10–11, concluding with an awards ceremony on the second day. “The AMC Competition provides a world stage where aircraft maintenance technicians—students and licensed professionals alike—can demonstrate their expertise,” says Greg Brown, VAI director of education and training services. “These men and women are essential to getting our birds airborne, and this competition—held right on the VERTICON show floor—is a way to celebrate their contribution to our industry.” The high demand for skilled maintenance technicians is making clear their contributions to the safety and economic success of the vertical aviation industry. Last year’s event drew 14 teams from across the United States, including Utah State University, which took Top School Team honors, and Idaho State University, whose team member Eliza Ward earned the AMC Professionalism Award for student contestants. The 2026 competition promises even greater participation.
